Millennium launches test for inflammation treatment

Boston Business Journal - 10:49 AM EDT Wednesday

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched an early-stage human clinical trial to test a new treatment for inflammation.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based company (Nasdaq: MLNM) announced Wednesday that it had launched the Phase I trial of MLN0415, a molecule Millennium's scientists have discovered that apparently targets a key pathway involved in inflammation. The thought is that the drug could help prevent inflammation or delay the progression of an inflammation-related disease.

The trial will involve up to 72 volunteers and assess safety and tolerability of the drug. If successful, the drug will move into Phase II trials involving actual sick patients and then a larger pool of sick patients in Phase III trials before it is submitted for federal marketing approval.

Millennium is developing the drug with global pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis; the two formed an alliance to develop and market new drugs focused on inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

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